Folding screen.



Patenfed Oci. I4, |902'. J. KAUFMAN.

FOLDING SCREEN.

,Application filed Aug. 19, 1901.) (No Model.)

W/TNESSES:

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rTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JONAS KAUFMAN, OF NEWCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING SCREEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.71 1,322, dated October14, 1902.

Application filed August 19. 1901. Serial No. 72,567. (No model.)

Be it known that I, J oNAs KAUFMAN, residing at Newcastle, in the countyof Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedFolding Screen, of which the followingis a specification.`

This invention relates to improvements in that class of foldable screensespecially adapted for use in nurseries and other places for providing aguard or protecting means about stoves, fireplaces, and other dangerous'points from which it is desired to keep small children and it seeks toprovide an appliance of this character of a verysimple and inexpensivenature which can be coinpactly arranged for shipment, which can easilybe adjusted to an operative position,and which will eifectivelyserve forits intended purposes.

Myin vention comprehends a folding screen formed of a skeleton frame oflight metal, said frame comprising a front portion and side membershinged to the front to fold inward in a plane with the front, whenpacked for shipping or storing and out at right angles to the front whenadjusted for use, said front and side members having woven-wire bodyportions, means forlimiting the outward movement of the sides apd forholding them to such position being also provided, all of which willhereinafter be explained in detail and specifically pointed out in theappended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a perspective View illustrating my invention as inuse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of one corner, showingthe parts to their operative or adjusted position. Fig. S is an edgeview of the parts shown in Fig. 2 lookingin the direction of the arrowin Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and Fig.5 is a top plan View of my improved fender, the same being folded fortransportation.

In its practical construction my improved fender consists of a frontportion a, formed of a top bar l and a bottom bar 2, joined at the endsby the vertical rods 3 3 and at the center by a brace-rod 3, and a frontportion a, formed of woven wire, joined to horizontal wires 4 It, one ofwhich, 4, is disposed under the top bar l, and the other over the bottombar 2, and the ends of said rods 4 4i are connected to the vertical endrods 3, to which the side ends of the wire strands are also connected,as clearly shown in Fig. l. of the bar l are riveted toconnecting-plates 5 5, and the ends of the bar 2 are likewise riveted toconnecting-plates 5 5. The plates 5 5rt are curved inwardly on the areof a circle, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, by reference to which itwill be seen the front ends of the upper and lower bars G 6 of thefoldable sides b b arejoined by pivot-studs 7 7 in such manner that thesaid sides may readily be swung out at right angles to the front a, asshown in Figs. l and 2, or closed inward in a plane with the front a.,as shown in Fig.

5, to provide for colnpactly folding up the fender for storing orshipping. The sides b b also include vertical end rods 8 8, upper andlower horizontal rods 9 9a, and wire strands b', made fast to the rods 99% and the vertical rods 8 8, as shown.

To provide for conveniently limiting the outward swing of the sides b h,the outer ends ofthe horizontal bars 7 7 of said sides are curved on theare of a circle and the extremities terminate in straight edges 7x 7x,adapted to. contact with the squared edges l` 2x of the horizontal bars1 and 2 ol' the front a. The ends 7 of the bars 7 and the ends lX ol'the bar l are beveled or out off at an angle, as indicated by 1-v and 7yin Figs. 2 and 4, whereby to leave a'part of the upper curvedconnecting-plates 5, the reason for which will presently appear.

So far as described it will be readily apparent that by reason of thepeculiareonneetion of the sides b to the front a the fender can beconveniently placed in position around the front ofa stove, as shown, afireplace, or other object from which it isintended to keep children orother nieddlesome persons, and by reason of the stop portions forlimiting the outward swing ot' the sides the said fender can bemaintained in a firm position without other special means for suchpurpose.

For conveniently holding the sides locked to the front when folded up,as shown in Fig. 5, the inner ends of the bars 7 ofthe sides areapertured, as shown-at 70, for receiving atie wire o1' cord, as shown inFig. 5, and the said apertures also provide a means for connecting theinner ends of the sides to hooks at The ends IOO each side of areplacewhen so desired. To also provide against the closing in of the sides,which might be done by a child pressing against said sides, and aconsequent tipping or disarranging ofthe fender, means are also providedfor holding the sides locked to their outer adjustment against ordinarypressure thereagainst. For this purpose that part of ltheconnecting-plates 5 left exposed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 andhereinbefore referred to, is provided with an aperture 5X, and theadjacent ends of the upper wire rods are extended after they have beenwound about the outer one of the vertical rods S, and the said extendedends are bent upward to form a catch-finger 8x, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4,)which when the sid es are in their closed position rests against theunder side of the plates 5 in such manner that when the saidsides 1J areswung outward the said members 8)I will automatically move in toengagement with the apertures 5", and thereby lock the said sides frommoving inward, it being manifest that to move the said sides inward to aclosed position it is only necessary to depress the catch end 9x of thewire rod 9, the saine being bent to form a finger-piece 9y forconveniently depressing it, it being also obvious that to providel forthe automatic locking operation referred to the upper rods 9 are to bepfspringw1re.

I am aware that folding fenders for fireplaces and the like havinghinged ends have heretofore been provided. My invention differentiatesfrom such types of fenders, so far as I know, in the peculiar manner inwhich the sides and front are joined and means for limiting the outwardswing of the sides and the means for holding them to such outeradjustment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

The hereinbefore-described improved foldable fender, comprising incombination, a front or body portion, said portion including the upperand lower bars l and 2, end rods 3 3, and the curved plates 5 5, iixedlysecured to the ends of the bars l and 2, said plates each having anaperture the sides b, said sides including lthe bars 6 6a, end rods 8 8,the outer ends of said bars 6 6a being pivotally connected to the plates5 a, to fold outward at right angles to the body, and inward against thesaid body, means for limiting the outward swing of the sides and thehorizontal rods 9 9, forming apart of the sides b, said wires havingcatch portions 9x adapted to automatically engage the apertures 5X, iu

plates 5, when the sides are swung outward, 6o

all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposesdescribed.

JONAS KAUFMAN. Witnesses:

L. A. JOHNSTON, GEO. W. MILLER.

